Tikichick

At this point Mesa Verde and Kim are the ones in control of deciding if any fingerprinting of documents take place. Chuck and HHM have no authority to either have it done and could only attempt to push it be done as part of a criminal probe, which ain't happening.

Chuck only winds up creating more evidence of his mental instability if he continues to try to vindicate his infallibility. It also hands the keys to Howard to push Chuck out of any control at the firm, possibly without the necessity of buying him out. HHM isn't going to sanction Chuck's witch hunt, there is NO benefit to them to keep the issue simmering, NONE. Vindication of Chuck isn't a positive feather in HHM's cap. HHM needs to distance itself from the Mesa Verde debacle. The fact Howard isn't the top guy when it comes to banking regulatory matters doesn't mean Howard is less than capable as an attorney, even though it's a notion Chuck has no doubt fed and fostered over many years. Even at the top of his game I highly doubt Chuck is the attorney I'd want defending me if I faced the possibility of death row on a murder charge. Chuck is a research-oriented attorney in love with the details. There's no way given his recent limitations Chuck has been able to keep abreast of all of the regulatory details that make his heart go pitter pat. The research wonks aren't generally the best courtroom orating litigators because without painstaking research they aren't able to think quickly on their feet. HHM appears to be more of a corporate-focused firm -- Mesa Verde, Sandpiper, a massive doc review team -- all of that points to real estate and corporate type law. Their image has taken a licking with Mesa Verde and Chuck's implosion. They won't survive the PR nightmare Chuck's need to bring down Jimmy before the bar would require. Jimmy would be capable in many instances of helping me avoid the death penalty, but he could turn off a jury if he decides to roll the dice and heads off on a tangent. Right now if I were trying to avoid the needle Kim is the one whose number I'd be dialing. She thinks on her feet and gives nothing away on the outside. She knows the law -- and understands those who break bad.

I'll put on my petty hat to make this comment. I cannot understand how Alyssa Milano has not been trained to walk or stand properly after having been hired to host this show and repeatedly be photographed up on a runway and behind a backlit screen, both of which highlight her ridiculously wide-legged stance as if she's been out riding the range for weeks at a time. Even out on the baseball field for challenge introduction it stuck out like a sore thumb.

I still think Chuck is the puppeteer when it comes to Howard and look forward to the backstory of the mechanisms being revealed. Howard forgiving the loan to Kim was him going rogue because he genuinely hates how Chuck has forced his hand. Chuck always has to have the appearance of being the better brother, always. He must have the appearance of being above reproach, yet he knows the truth and cannot escape it, hence his illness. The price must be paid. I think Rebecca saw behind the mask, ended it with Chuck and Chuck lays the blame on Jimmy, because before Jimmy came to town all was bliss. I think he intends to destroy any chance Jimmy and Kim have, no matter what it takes.

I cannot believe this show has reached the point for me that the Gallagher I've most enjoyed this season has been Carl. I finally understand him and can root for him. I'm struggling to keep rooting for Lip, Fiona, Ian and Debbie -- all of whom I have rooted for in the past. The lows on this show have been getting too low the past couple seasons. Yes, this family and those around them may behave Shamelessly, but overall I need things to be more farce, more lighthearted, lower stakes on the table -- and a family I can keep rooting for. I thought the finale was going to right things upward again in the Gallagher house -- although I did have a fear the baby or someone else was actually going to die tragically. I need to be able to root for my Shameless Gallaghers -- and not have Kev and Vee destroyed either, because they are part and parcel of the package for me.

At least now I understand why the episodes have a strange original airdate and my DVR doesn't recognize them as new and therefore my automatic series record is useless. I can either make sure I do all recording manually or have multiple copies of each episode record. Not pleased.

I felt the papering over of the term rigged related to Melissa not wanting that associated in any way with the results we see week after week on the show. In her mind Maddie has now legitimately "made it" and it won't do for anybody to look too close at some of the "competitions" on Maddie's resume, replete with first place finishes. Regular viewers understand many of the competitions have been fabrications for the show, but it won't do for those who understand Maddie is a multiple title holder by reputation only to be exposed to that kind of idea.

For me the episode was further confirmation that Chuck's been pulling all the strings -- we simply found out that it goes back decades. Howard is being forced to keep Kim in doc review, probably faces the prospect of having to buy Chuck out of the firm if he doesn't play bad cop per Chuck's orders. Of course the truth is Chuck will never give up his grip on HHM, same as he won't on Jimmy. I think Chuck set up Jimmy for the missing money from their father's grocery store as well. ETA: I don't think Jimmy suspects even a little bit that Chuck set him up to look like a thief to their father. No way I think Jimmy did anything to bust up Chuck's marriage either. I suspect Chuck was completely unhinged when Rebecca didn't fall in line with Chuck's attitude about Jimmy and kept trying to push her into reacting to Jimmy the way he wanted her to and that eventually led to the relationship unspooling all the way around. Chuck likes to play puppetmaster and attempts to manipulate everyone around him into the role he wants them to play, with him controlling the strings.

The mom or legally authorized person doesn't have to be in the same room or on camera, merely on set. It may well be that filming in LA has broadened the regulations that they are subject to. I also expect that the girls were learning some of the choreo off camera, which they obviously always do since we see them repeatedly supposedly entering the studio after hearing what the dance is and then suddenly they are performing choreography, in unison. Granted, it's sometimes not such a stretch since a great deal of their choreo has contained essentially similar combos time after time, but what's presented to the audience is very skewed.

I suspect that not putting the girls on camera when their moms didn't show, and the producers' comments that the girls couldn't be on camera since the moms didn't show up was likely for genuine legal reasons. I believe child performers are legally required to have a parent, guardian or legally authorized person on set when they are filming. That is also probably the real reason Melissa was named as Kalani's guardian, to cover them legally for filming. Will be interesting to see what happens as the Zieglers depart in light of the pretense of Kira's ultimatum.

Very well done episode with lots of layers. This is another episode that shines a light on how talented every member of the cast is. Even the laughs sprinkled through generally have another element underneath to make you think. Hadn't caught the nod to Anthony Anderson being on Law and Order until I read it here. It did take me a while to shake his performance in Shameless and accept him on a humorous level here. Although if you think about it, the entire premise of the show, and its humor, is layered and generally designed to make you think. Anthony Anderson is proving himself to be one of those other level talents like Bryan Cranston, capable of selling you whatever drama he brings and then taking your breath away with the laughs.

My guess is when the series is on the final lap towards Saul we're going to get the complete explanation of Chuck. He trapped himself in his anxiety-ridden phobias and delusional ideas when he blocked Jimmy from being a lawyer instead of a mailroom clerk at HHM. He was no doubt twitchy and quirky for various other reasons (Rebecca?), but when he chose to block Jimmy he knew it was for bad rather than good reasons and he can't face that truth about himself.

From what I know about the law, strictly as someone who works with it daily in a non-lawyer capacity, Jimmy did indeed violate the ethics of professional conduct. It was fabulously entertaining and one of the best on screen scenes I've ever seen, but it did cross over the line in pretty flagrant ways. I found it fascinating where exactly they showed Kim drawing the line between amusement and concern in hearing the story. Notably she seemed far more likely to give toes over the line a pass until she realized the case was Jimmy's, not Davis and Main's. I get the feeling this season may focus a lot on Chuck's story. Of course Rebecca will turn out to be significant, but I'm guessing we'll leave the season feeling her story explains Chuck, when in fact I think his ultimate explanation will come more in the timeframe we're closing in on Saul.

Mama Cherry Lockhart would be a fabulously twisted answer to the mystery that I don't think anyone would see coming.

If they have Helen and Whitney attending the wedding based on their "connection" to Luisa, I'm calling that sloppy writing and a desperate attempt to make everyone a plausible suspect. Most especially so if they reveal either one to be responsible for the killing. I'm dying to know what the Detective is reacting to so strongly in the preview. He seems shocked and extremely horrified. ETA: I'm absolutely not writing Max off as the driver based on the fact he testified. He's still my top suspect.

I think they all have their suspicions who it is, which fuels a desperation for some of them to hide what they know for various reasons. Still think it's a classic farce and the trial is going to be a bumpy ride with the explosive revelation that Joanie isn't Noah's child. I think Cole cannot conceive Allison would ever keep a secret like that from him after all they shared and is completely in the dark until he lays eyes on the girl in the courtroom, possibly not even until "Noah, you are NOT the father" comes spilling out of the DNA testimony. I still say while they're all nervously protecting whoever they each feel is responsible none of them is right and ultimately it will come out Max killed Scotty, accidentally or intentionally. Helen's dad as the potential driver would be fascinating also.

I'm completely fascinated by Noah's "therapy session". For the most part I believe it didn't happen, except I can't see the guy actually being capable of honestly and truthfully digging deep enough to come up with some of the analysis on his own. I believe he did duck out of the session and go see Captain America the way he told the therapist he was tempted to and told Allison he did do. He also referenced Captain America in his discussion about Omar Bradley, so I suspect in his mind he made seeing the movie into research for his book.

Emma Thompson and Julie Walters generally manage to make something magic happen.

Any word yet if BBCA will be airing the current season anytime soon? We really miss it.

IMO if Scotty did indeed say "that's our baby" it wasn't Allison's baby, or even a literal infant. It could have been in reference to the Lobster Roll, Allison's house or something else. I think so far the show is yanking the audience's chain about who the father of Allison's baby is. This episode was largely misdirection according to my theory of who killed Scotty. The possible difference between Allison's house and Helen's is Helen's house is owned by the trust, not Helen personally, and therefore there is no way it can be considered a marital asset. The trust is likely written to provide for Helen and possibly the children, but Noah is highly doubtful as a beneficiary of the trust. I suspect the trust has provided Helen the ability to run her own store, which is also probably a trust asset. I don't really know how the laws of NY would treat Allison's house. Noah and Allison's apartment was a stunning departure from every other residence in the series, and very much a departure from every place Noah and Allison have spent time together. I took the cold sterility to be very telling, along with the out of place oddity of the girls' room. I couldn't figure out from what Allison said to her mother if Noah decided on the paint job or Allison did -- and what it meant based on who picked it out. The situation with the nursery and Noah's office was also very meaningful. Overall it seemed the apartment was telegraphing Allison to take her baby and leave, they don't belong there.

My heart sunk when Kim so blatantly sat there telling North only she has a star -- in front of the other little ones, their mother and grandmother -- and no one spoke up. Unless she plans on naming baby #2 Polaris (irony) or something, those types of comments will be excluding her other child as well. But then again she learned the very same behavior at Mama Kris' knee. I'm amazed it hasn't torn that family apart by now. Whether it's Bruce or Caitlyn, the behavior has been the same, having her cake and eating it, too.

I don't think this show will wind up with Noah and Allison as an intact couple with a FABULOUS life by any stretch.

Didn't love this episode. Hoping we're heading towards Lucious being forced to acknowledge his demons.

I have a hazy recollection of his meeting Noah there ( Allison waitressing there?) and Noah finding out/Max confirming that he had stayed/been back, partied, hooked up with someone there.

I almost didn't stick with the show after the break between the seasons. I just didn't find Noah and Allison compelling enough to stick with. I've enjoyed the other POV perspectives this season and now the episodes have really been holding my attention. I've been mostly marginally interested at best in who killed Scott Lockhart and felt that part of the story wasn't going to be particularly interesting. This week's episode changed that for me. My suggestion isn't one I've seen mentioned elsewhere so I don't want to put it in this thread in case it's anywhere near correct and it would annoy people who would prefer not to have clues pointed out. I did put it in the speculation thread if anyone is interested in the idea.